SHAFAQNA -Â A UK petition to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes against Palestinian civilians has reached 90,000 signatures.

The petition, posted on the UK governmentâ€™s website, has already been signed by nearly 90,000 Brits. Its initiator, Damian Moran, said that under international law, the Israeli prime minister can be detained when he comes to the British capital in September â€œfor the massacre of over 2,000 [Palestinian] civiliansâ€ during the 51-day offensive by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza last year.Â

If the petition garners 100,000 signatures, the UK parliament is required by law to debate it. However, Moran, the petitionâ€™s author, said he “doesn’t expect him [Netanyahu] to get arrested because of the universal jurisdiction laws.â€

The UK government was required to provide an official answer to the petition as soon as it gathered 10,000 signatures. It replied: â€œUnder UK and international law, visiting heads of foreign governments, such as Prime Minister Netanyahu, have immunity from legal process, and cannot be arrested or detained.â€

Observers said the petition is a clear message that there is a massive amount of people who do not want ill-famed Netanyahu in their country. In the meantime, the number of signatures is expected to increase in coming days.